Autumn Dreams (11 page)

Was Brenna trying to keep secrets from Mike? All kinds of questions about how he and Brenna were getting along raced through Cass’s mind. When she’d hired Brenna, she hadn’t known the young woman was living with her boyfriend. By the time she found out, Brenna had proven to be an excellent worker, and Cass couldn’t see letting her go over the issue, even though
she didn’t approve of cohabiting. Once she’d actually talked to Brenna about it.

“Why don’t you guys get married if you’re living together?”

“Married?” Brenna looked surprised at the suggestion. “But I’m only twenty.”

“What about the idea that sex and marriage are supposed to go together, and you shouldn’t have one without the other?”

Brenna wrinkled her nose as if she smelled something bad. “I’ve heard that.”

Cass waited for the
but
. Brenna didn’t disappoint.

“But no one follows that old-fashioned idea anymore.”

At least not many
. “I do.”

Brenna just looked at her, and Cass realized that in Brenna’s eyes her singleness was proof that she was wrong. If she put out a little, Brenna was too polite to say, she wouldn’t be climbing alone into the rinky-dink bed under the stairs every night.

“I’m a Christian, Brenna, and I want to do things the way the Bible says to. And the Bible says wait.”

Brenna nodded. “I know that.” She set her jaw. “I just didn’t want to.”

“Has living with Mike made you happy? Filled all the holes inside?”

“Were you ever in love with anyone, Cassandra?” Brenna asked, ignoring the question.

Interesting question
. “I don’t know. I was almost engaged to a guy once a long time ago, but he decided he loved a little redhead who came to my elbow. At the time I thought my heart was broken. Now I wonder.”

“Did you sleep with him before the little redhead came along?” Brenna folded her arms, waiting for the truth.

“Brenna!”

“Hey, you brought up the subject.”

True
. “No, I didn’t. He was a Christian too, and we both felt the same way about being chaste.”

“You’re an anachronism, Cassandra.” Brenna reached over and patted her hand. “But you’re a great boss.”

Cass smiled at the girl to show she understood Brenna meant nothing nasty with the old-fashioned crack. “All I’m trying to be is an obedient Christian.”

“Um.” Brenna frowned. “Don’t you get lonely all on your own?”

Cass thought of the many times she and the Lord had talked about that very topic.

“Yes, I get lonely, but I know that the Lord should be enough.”

“Sounds good, Cass, but the Lord can’t hug you. I’ll take Mike any day.” And Brenna had disappeared into the next room to strip the bed.

But it seemed everything might not be hunky-dory in Brenna and Mike’s little paradise. She was clearly bothered, obviously struggling with—what? Cass had no idea. All she knew was that Brenna no longer automatically smiled when she spoke of Mike, and she didn’t call him on her cell a million times a day. She seemed more solemn and preoccupied. Add secret, teary phone calls, and Cass thought she saw the handwriting on the wall.

As she watched Brenna on the phone, curiosity about the person at the other end wiggled actively in Cass’s brain with all the energy of a pup wagging a greeting. Ruthlessly she made the nosiness sit and stay as she backed into the common room to give the girl privacy.

The minutes spun out as Cass dusted the rocker, the escritoire she’d gotten at an estate sale in Haddonfield, and the Federal style fireplace with its collection of antique candlesticks, all with candles, ready for a summer electrical storm or a fall hurricane to knock out the lights.

She found herself straining to hear Brenna’s voice. However, Brenna didn’t speak. She didn’t say a single word. Strange. Very Strange. Dial a number, but don’t talk to whoever answers?

Concerned, Cass walked openly into the front hall where Brenna could see her.

She could also see Brenna clearly, and Cass’s breath caught at the tears bathing that lovely face. Instinctively, she held out a hand. “Brenna?”

The girl dropped the phone into the cradle and spun. “I’m sorry!” she blurted, her voice quavery. “I’ll pay; I promise I will.”

Cass shook her head. “I’m not concerned about that. I’m concerned about you. Are you all right?”

Brenna backed toward the swinging door behind her. “I’m fine. Really.”

“Honey, fine people don’t cry. Maybe I can help?”

“I’m fine,” Brenna repeated as she backed through the door. The tears continued to run down her cheeks. “Never felt better.” A shaky laugh drifted through the whishing air as she let go of the door and fled.

Cass was thoughtful as she went back to her dusting. She was wiping down the books on the lower shelves in the library when Dan walked in carrying a novel.

Cass stood, telling herself that what she felt was simply an innkeeper glad to see a guest. “Having a good day?”

He shrugged. “Not too bad.”

A short silence ensued while Cass tried to think of something to say. Dan walked to the shelves and slid the novel into a slot. He cleared his throat. “I told Brenna to tell you how good the omelet was this morning. Did she?”

“Yes, she did. Thanks.”

Dan scanned the shelves. “Um.”

“Remember you told me you saw her make an almost phone call?”

He looked at her over his shoulder and nodded.

“She just made another one, only this time I think she held on long enough for a connection.”

Dan turned to face her. A sly grin slid over his face. “You can usually tell there’s a connection because people say interesting things like hello.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “They do? Well, that’s the weird part.” She stuffed her dust cloth into her jeans pocket. “She didn’t say anything. When I walked to the registration desk, she slammed the phone down and bolted.”

Dan leaned against the bookshelves, looking thoughtful. “Why would she make a call and say nothing?”

“Good question. And she was crying, really crying.”

“Ah.” He nodded sagely as if that information answered all their questions. Then he shook his head. “I don’t get it.”

“I can’t figure her out either. I just hope she comes to work tomorrow.”

“She wasn’t mad that you saw her, was she?”

“No. Just incredibly sad and embarrassed.” Cass reached over and pulled a novel from the shelf. “Here. Read this one by Harry
Kraus. You’ll like it. It’s a mystery about a man trying to create a new identity for himself.”

He took the book even as he looked at her strangely. “I haven’t read as much fiction in my whole life as I’ve read since I got here!”

“It’s good for you. Relaxes you.”

“It makes me tense. I keep feeling I should be doing something worthwhile.”

“Reading’s worthwhile.”

“Fiction?”

“Sure. It lets you see life as it could be or should be. At least the novels that offer hope do. The bad guys get caught. The lovers get together. The quest is solved. Besides, Jesus told stories.”

Dan looked intrigued. “The parables. I never thought of that. And don’t worry about Brenna. She’ll show.”

Cass sighed. “I just wish I could help her.”

Dan put his novel down on a shelf and moved closer to Cass. “I know you’re worried about her. It speaks volumes about you that you care so much for someone you’ve only known a couple of months. But if she won’t let you get close, there’s nothing much you can do, at least for now.”

Cass frowned. It was almost as bad as one of the brothers patiently explaining something beyond her understanding.

Dan saw the frown. “Come on.” His voice was light, teasing. “You know I’m right.”

Cass pulled out her dust cloth and swiped at a few more dustless books, then stood staring at their spines. He was right, and she did know it. “I hate it when I can’t fix things.”

“Are you telling me you’re a control freak?” He sounded appalled.

She glanced up, ready to argue, and saw his grin. She couldn’t help but grin back.

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

She couldn’t hide her surprise even as she tried to tamp down the pleasure his invitation brought.

“Please. I’m so tired of eating alone I could scream.”

“Oh.” Of course. It wasn’t that he was dying to have dinner with her. It was more that she was the only person he knew. She was merely a hedge against another night of boredom. She gave a
mental shrug. So what? A dinner with Dan was a dinner with Dan. “What time?”

“You have to feed the kids, don’t you?”

“You mean they aren’t invited?”

Dan looked momentarily startled. Then he caught on to her wide-eyed innocent act. “Cute. Is seven okay?”

At six-thirty Cass put the kids’ meal on the table. She’d thought Jared would never get home from football practice. She had time for a quick shower and a general spruce-up before she met Dan in the lobby. She reached in her cubbyhole of a bedroom and grabbed her robe off the back of the door. She started up the stairs to the family bathroom.

Her private line in the kitchen rang, and sighing, she answered.

“Cassandra Marie.” Mom’s voice was full of tears.

“Mom! What’s wrong?” Had something happened to Dad?

“It’s Elsie.”

Cass’s stomach clutched.
Oh, Mom!
“What’s wrong?”

“She’s up in the attic above the garage, and she won’t come down. I’ve called her and called her, but she won’t come down. And I can’t figure out how to get to her.”

“Oh, Mom, she can’t be up there.” Hopelessness swept Cass. “She’s been dead for several years. Don’t you remember?”

“What?”

“Aunt Elsie died a long time ago.”

“She—she did not.” Cass could hear the horror in her mother’s voice. “Not Elsie. She’s in the garage attic. I can hear her moving.”

“Mom, where’s Dad?”

“Who?”

Cass blinked. Mom remembered her daughter but not her husband? “Dad. You know, Lew.”

“Oh, you mean that handsome Lew Merton?”

“Yes, that’s who I mean. May I speak to him?”

“Let me see if he’s come to visit.”

“Mom, he lives there.”

“With Elsie and me? I would think not. It wouldn’t be proper.”

Cass blinked against her tears, aware that Jared and Jenn were
watching her with concern. “Just find him for me, okay? I need to talk with him. Try the kitchen.”

“Okay. Don’t go away.” And she hung up the phone.

“Mom!” Cass called, but the line was dead.

“What’s wrong?” Jared asked, rising.

Cass stared at the receiver still in her hand. “Aunt Elsie is in the garage attic.”

“What? That’s nuts.”

“Apparently not to Mom.” She slapped the phone in its cradle. “I’ve got to go over there right away.” She looked distractedly for her purse and keys. When she grabbed them, her hands shook.

“Isn’t Grandpop home?” Jared asked.

“I don’t know.” She rubbed her forehead. “Mom didn’t seem to realize they were married, let alone if he was there.”

“You shouldn’t go over there alone.” Jared’s brow was furrowed with concern. “Call Uncle Will.”

Cass shook her head. “He lives off island. It’ll take him much longer to get there than me. And Mom called me.”

“Then I’ll go with you.” He started for the steps. “Just let me get my jacket.”

Cass’s heart swelled. What a great kid. “Oh, Jared, you don’t have to come along.”

“You can’t go alone.” He repeated, clearly incensed at the very idea. “Who knows what you’re going to find.”

“Aunt Elsie?” muttered Jenn.

“Funny. Very funny.” Jared launched himself upstairs for his jacket.

“Do you want to come too?” Cass asked Jenn. “Or do you want to stay here?”

Jenn pushed back in her chair. Varying emotions flashed over her face: reluctance, uncertainty, guilt, but the primary response was fear. “I’ll stay here.”

Cass couldn’t blame her. She was afraid of what she would find too. “No problem. I just don’t know when we’ll be back.”

“What about Mr. Harmon?” Jenn asked as Jared thundered downstairs.

“Uh-oh! Dan!” Cass raced into the front hall and called, “Dan! Dan!”

He appeared at the top of the stairs in his stocking feet, buttoning
his shirt, tucking it in his jeans as he hurried down to her. “What’s wrong, Cass?”

“My mom just called.” Her voice broke. “I have to go over there.”

“It’s like Friday?”

Cass nodded.

He turned and started back upstairs. “Let me get my shoes, and I’ll go with you.”

She stared at him, immensely moved. “Thanks, but you don’t have to. Jared’s coming.”

“Of course I have to,” he surprised her by saying. “Now you get your car, and I’ll be out back in a minute.”

Nodding, Cass ran to the garage on the alley, Jared on her heels. While she appreciated Jared’s accompanying her, it was Dan’s coming along that made her feel she might be able to cope after all.

“Sit in the back, Jared.” She slid into the driver’s seat. “Dan’s going with us.”

“Okay.” The relief in his voice matched her own feeling of reprieve.

When they pulled up in front of the neatly landscaped house on Scallop, the smoke alarm was blaring and two old men stood on the sidewalk in the dark trying to decide what to do.

“I don’t see no smoke,” one said to Cass as she scrambled out of the car.

“I smell it,” the other said. “But I don’t see any fire.”

“We’ll check it out,” Dan called as he followed Cass up the walk, Jared loping behind.

“Mom?” Cass called, making for the kitchen and the smoke alarm. “Where are you?”

She heard no answer and half expected to see both parents on the floor, overcome by fumes of some kind. What she found was an empty room and a pan on a stove burner with a high flame under it. Billows of smoke rose from the burning hamburgers in the pan, little tongues of flame leaping in the grease. All this was overlaid with the terrible fumes from the pan’s melting Bakelite handle. A gray haze clung to the ceiling, swirling around the alarm.

“Man, these things are annoying,” Dan said as he pried the casing open and released the battery.

Cass grabbed a tea towel, wrapped it about the handle of the smoldering pan, and rushed toward the back door. “Jared!”